In this July 15, 2015 photo, sewage spews into the waters of the Marina da Gloria in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Extreme water pollution is common in Brazil, where the majority of sewage is not treated, and... (Leo Correa)

(Newser)
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Athletes competing in next year's Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro will be swimming and boating in waters so contaminated with human feces that they risk becoming violently ill and unable to compete in the games, an AP investigation has found. An AP analysis of water quality revealed dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from human sewage in Olympic and Paralympic venues—results that alarmed international experts and dismayed competitors training in Rio, some of whom have already fallen ill with fevers, vomiting, and diarrhea. It is the first independent comprehensive testing for both viruses and bacteria at the Olympic sites. Brazilian officials have assured that the water will be safe for the Olympic athletes. But the government does not test for viruses. Highlights from the extensive AP investigation:

Disease-causing viruses in some tests measured up to 1.7 million times what would be considered hazardous on a Southern California beach. Prime beaches are deserted because the surf is thick with putrid sludge, and periodic die-offs leave the Olympic lake, Rodrigo de Freitas, littered with rotting fish. The AP viral testing found not one water venue safe for swimming or boating.

Rodrigo de Freitas Lake was thought be safe, yet its waters were among the most polluted for Olympic sites, with results ranging from 14 million adenoviruses per liter on the low end to 1.7 billion per liter at the high end.

Austria's sailing coach has lost training days after sailors fall ill despite extreme precautions. "The Olympic medal is something that you live your life for," he says, "and it can really happen that just a few days before you get ill and you're not able to perform at all."

A US expert in waterborne viruses conducted a "conservative" risk assessment, assuming athletes would ingest three teaspoons of water—far less than athletes say they take in. She found "an infection risk of 99%." Nearly 1,400 of the expected 10,000 Olympic athletes participate in water sports.

In 75% of the samples at the Olympic lake, fecal coliforms exceeded Brazil's legal limit for "secondary contact"—in two samples spiking to over 10 times the accepted level.

Brazil promised to build eight treatment facilities to filter much of the sewage and household trash. Only one has been built. "Brazilian authorities promised the moon in order to win their Olympic bid and as usual they're not making good on those promises," says a biologist. Rio Gov. Luiz Fernando Pezao has acknowledged "there's not going to be time" to finish the cleanup of the bay.

In this April 28, 2015 photo, Fernando Spilki, the head of the environmental studies program at Feevale University, holds up water samples taken from the Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Felipe Dana)

In this July 28, 2015 photo, workers remove garbage collected by floating waste barriers in a canal at the Mare slum complex, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Rio's historic sewage problem spiraled over the... (Silvia Izquierdo)

In this July 28, 2015 photo, a boy wades in the beach waters of Flamengo, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Rio Olympic organizing committee's website states that a key legacy of the games will be 'the rehabilitation... (Leo Correa)

In this July 16, 2015 photo, Ivan Bulaja, coach of the Austrian 49er-class sailing team, speaks during an interview, in the Rio de Janeiro municipality Niteroi, Brazil. The Croatian-born coach said his... (Silvia Izquierdo)

In this July 14, 2015 photo, beachgoers wade into the waters of Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An Associated Press analysis of water quality found not one water venue safe for swimming or... (Leo Correa)

In this April 28, 2015 photo, Fernando Spilki, the head of the environmental studies program at Feevale University, takes water samples from the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With... (Felipe Dana)

In this July 12, 2015 photo, a boy walks with his father's catch of the day from the Marina da Gloria, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The head of Rio's Infectious Diseases Society said contaminated waters... (Leo Correa)

In this April 28, 2015 photo, Fernando Spilki, virologist and coordinator of the environmental quality program at Feevale University, holds up a water sample, backdropped by the Marina da Gloria, Zone... (Felipe Dana)

In this July 9, 2015 photo, doctoral candidate Rodrigo Staggemeier works to analyze samples collected from the waters of Rio de Janeiro, at the Feevale University in Novo Hamburgo, Brazil. The testing... (Leo Correa)

In this July 28, 2015 photo, a water canal surrounds housing in the Mare slum complex in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Extreme water pollution is common in Brazil, where the majority of sewage is not treated,... (Silvia Izquierdo)

FILE - In this June 1, 2015 file photo, a discarded sofa litters the shore of Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As part of its Olympic bid, Brazil promised to build eight treatment facilities to... (Silvia Izquierdo)

In this June 5, 2015 photo, fetid water flows out of a storm drain that dumps into the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, where Olympic rowing competitions are slated to be held during the 2016 games, in Rio de... (Felipe Dana)

This July 27, 2015 aerial photo shows fluorescent green waters in the Marapendi Lagoon, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lagoons that hug the Olympic Park and which the government’s own data shows are among... (Leo Correa)

In this July 13, 2015 photo, backdropped by Sugar Loaf Mountain, a worker sets up a fence in preparation for an Olympic test event, at the Marina da Gloria, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 10,000 athletes... (Leo Correa)

This July 27, 2015 aerial photo shows Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Water quality monitoring was supposed to be beefed up along the city’s picture postcard beaches, including Copacabana,... (Leo Correa)

This July 27, 2015 aerial photo, shows Marina da Gloria in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Construction is underway on a project to cap a pipe that long spewed raw sewage into the marina, the starting place for... (Leo Correa)

In this July 13, 2015 photo, men carry a rowing boat for a practice session in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The lake, which was largely cleaned up in recent years, was thought... (Leo Correa)

In this July 16, 2015 photo, members of Austria's Olympic sailing team train in the Rio de Janeiro municipality Niteroi, Brazil. "This is by far the worst water quality we've ever seen in our sailing... (Silvia Izquierdo)

In this July 13, 2015 photo, athletes practice rowing on a deck in the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Over 10,000 athletes from 205 countries are expected to compete in next year's... (Leo Correa)

This July 27, 2015 aerial photo shows the Rodrigo de Freitas Lake in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. An Associated Press analysis of water quality found dangerously high levels of viruses and bacteria from human... (Leo Correa)

The Democrats should concentrate there global environmental policy on issues more like this rather than false climate change issues. The cleanup of our environment and water is a much better initiative. If the rich environmentalists want to help they should donate there money to building water treatment, and cleanup facilities in parts of the world, where it is really needed. This to me is a very wonderful cause. Half of the worlds fresh water drinking water is barely fit to drink. The cleanup,remediation of heavy metal and chemicals from areas would help this process.

trailmix

Jul 31, 2015 4:13 PM CDT

Hold the water sports elsewhere.

K F

Jul 31, 2015 9:08 AM CDT

Brazil is a THIRD WORLD COUNTRY! Just look at the health and crime history, not to mention their total disregard of the Hague Convention when it comes to the Civil Aspects of Internatinal child Abduction laws!